Tranmere Rovers are moving closer to a major change in ownership, with an American consortium emerging as the frontrunners to take control of the League Two club.
According to reporting from the Wirral Globe, a bid from Ascent Capital Partners is now with the EFL for approval. That now marks the most advanced stage of negotiations since Mark and Nicola Palios put the club up for sale two years ago.
Palios updated fans in his New Years Update:
The Wirral club have been owned by former Football Association (FA) chief executive Mark Palios and his wife Nicola since 2014. The couple have been trying to sell the business for the last two years.
The process has been slow and at times frustrating. Previous attempts, including a 2025 bid led by U.S. President Donald Trump’s former lawyer Joe Tacopina and rapper-turned-actor A$AP Rocky. This bid collapsed before reaching regulatory approval.
The current bid appears more stable, with American interest in lower‑league English clubs continuing to grow. However, Tranmere Rovers declined to comment about the bid when approached by The Athletic.
The Athletic suggests this strategy will tie in to Palios’ hope to move Rovers from Prenton Park to a new stadium at Bidston Dock.
The new ground is thought to be part of a £100m regeneration project including retail, digital golf, and hotels, with the stadium potentially having a capacity of 25,000 seats.
Feasibility studies are underway and the project has the support of Wirral Council and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
Tranmere fans on X are split between cautious optimism and deep scepticism, with many welcoming the prospect of fresh investment while others warn that previous failed bids make it hard to trust any takeover until the EFL signs it off. There is also a clear desire for transparency. Supporters are calling for clarity on the consortium’s intentions and the future direction of the club.
If the deal goes through, it could mark a turning point for Tranmere by bringing in the financial backing and long‑term planning needed to stabilise the squad and rebuild momentum on and off the pitch.
